Visiting Italy's Lake District: Part IX - San Martino

I am actually nearing the end of reporting about our wonderful trip to Italy in May - and hope to have completed the segments before the two-month marker of our return arrives.  But I'll have to get myself into high gear for that!  It is shameful that I haven't done so already!  But there are still a couple segments to go.  I believe, however, that I have learned a lesson and will, in the future, blog about travel similar experiences on Travelpod, which is especially designed for such reporting. 

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After our exhilarating, if somewhat exhausting side trip and climb to Soglio in Switzerland, we all found ourselves - somewhat surprisingly - ready for new walking adventures closer to our hotel.  Thus, after leaving Menaggio by coach and being transported to our starting point across from a small olive grove near Griante,

we began our climb to the small church of San Martino (elev. 1,550 ft).

Yes, way up there - that's where we were headed!

Our path was formerly a mule-track.  As we wended our way up the steep slope,

we had lovely, if hazy views of Lake Como

and the enchanting peninsula of Bellagio.

Once arrived at the little church,

we could stop, breathe and savor the stunning view

while local Guide P described what we were viewing.

Some prankster had created a "mini-Jurassic Park San Martino"

but the items inside the tiny chapel were clearly more appropriate to the setting.

After thoroughly enjoying the vistas that San Martino provided, we all headed back down to Lake Como to experience yet another fascinating - as well as delicious - event!